It's a great week for a pot of soup
FARM STORIES & UPDATES
Welcome to the final week of the Main Season program!
I don't think Randy and I realized it until last month or so, but this has probably been one of the harder growing seasons in recent years. We always say we'd rather face a drought than too much rain, because at least with a drought you can irrigate. With too much rain, you can't control the rot and disease that inevitably come with it.
Nevertheless, we are grateful to have been able to provide fresh produce for the community. We're grateful that you tried new veggies with an open mind along with us, and we hope you enjoyed your visits to the farm each week.
If you have constructive feedback to share, we welcome it. Though certain things won't change, hearing from our community will help us to make meaningful decisions going forward, when possible.
It was a very lovely fall week. McEwen Painting gave our store, the back of our big barn, and our tractor garage door some TLC.
We're continuing to sell our carving pumpkins at half price - now $10 and $5 each through Sunday, November 1st.
On Saturday, we dug most of our potatoes to put them into storage. Which means you're getting... potatoes! We have a special machine that goes on the back of "Little Massey" (our smallest tractor in the fleet of 6). It uncovers the potatoes, and then we pick them up by hand. We don't wash them off, which helps them store longer. These potatoes will last in storage - a cool, dark place - for a couple of months.
While we won't have enough for shares... Back by popular demand: carrots and beets! Both have been frustrating crops this season, and we know how much you’ve missed them. We attempted (and failed!) a new transplanting technique for beets in order to reduce our weeds, which severely reduced our crop. We also needed some serious weed control in the carrots, which were being smothered out. After some rest time, they’re both now producing some nice roots (though not as many as we’d hoped). Farming certainly keeps us on our toes. Get ‘em while you can!
This week, cutting celery is in the share. It's a leafy variety and you can use the stalks and leaves in soups and salads. The flavor is strong and a little goes a long way.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Registration for our 2027 Vegetable Subscription Program is ongoing! Click this link to sign up. Don't forget to bring or send your payment in!
In case you missed it, we launched a new jarred product... SALSA! The medium-heat salsa is made with our own tomatoes in New Haven, CT. It trends a little more on the mild side. Jars are $6.99 each or a case of 6 for $36!
We need box donations please!
Bring in your clean, gently used boxes during store hours. No need to break them down - simply rip off your address label in advance. Think Chewy, Amazon, Target, cases of wine, unscented diapers, etc. No box is too big! Nothing shoebox size or smaller, please.
IMPORTANT DATES
Save the Date for our 2nd Annual Thanksgiving Gleaning!
Here are the details:
We're harvesting for donation in conjuction with our friends at Real Food CT, who will deliver what we harvest to local food pantries and soup kitchens
Saturday, November 14th from 10-11 a.m.
No experience necessary. Families are welcome. Stay as long as your kids can reasonably participate.
Bring a box with you - it will help to have some extra vessels
Park on Farm House Lane (please reserve the lot at our store for those who are shopping). We will have balloons on the side street. Walk up the hill and meet us in the barnyard behind the store.
Wear sturdy footwear. All other materials will be provided.
Sign Up Here (It's asking if anyone can transport a ladder - a ladder is not needed!)
The Peak Season program has now ended (13 total weeks).
The Main Season program runs through Saturday, October 31st (21 total weeks).
The Extended Season program runs through Saturday, December 5th (32 total weeks).
Please inquire if you're not sure which program you selected.
The Monroe Farmers' Market has ended for the year. The Shelton Farmers' Market runs on Saturday mornings from 9-12 at 100 Canal Street. The final date is Saturday, October 31st.
Our store closes for the season on Saturday, December 5th. We will also be closed on Black Friday (November 27th) so that our staff can quickly work and then go home to enjoy more of Thanksgiving weekend with their families.
STORE INFORMATION
Here is the fresh produce we plan to have in stock while supplies last (through Sunday, November 1st)
Acorn squash
Basil
Beets
Bell peppers (the last of them for 2026!)
Broccoli
Butternut squash
Carrots
Cauliflower
Collard greens
Delicata squash
Escarole
Garlic
Kale
Kohlrabi
Lettuce
Mashed potato squash
Onions
Potatoes
Scallions
Shishito peppers (the last of them for 2026!)
Spaghetti squash
Swiss chard
Tomatillos (the last of them for 2026!)
Tomatoes (the last of them for 2026!)
Plus, apples from our friends at Hindinger Farm in Hamden.
CURRENT STORE HOURS:
Monday: 10:30 to 3 p.m.
Tuesday: 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wednesday: 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thursday: 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday: 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Cash or check is our preferred method of payment as it allows our family's farm to keep 100% of the profits. However, we also gladly accept credit cards and Venmo.
VEGETABLE SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
MAIN SEASON WEEK 21 OF 21
EXTENDED SEASON WEEK 27 OF 32
(Tuesday, October 27th through Saturday, October 31st)
Share Contents (Listed approximately from shortest shelf life to longest)
Large:
1 bunch of leafy celery
1 lb. of green peppers
1 head of broccoli, cauliflower, or romanesco (farmer's choice)
1 "Grab a Green" - you choose from lettuce, escarole, cabbage, kale, collards, Swiss chard, and more
1 lb. of leeks
2 delicata squashes
2 lbs. of potatoes
Small:
1 bunch of leafy celery
1 lb. of green peppers
1 head of broccoli, cauliflower, or romanesco (farmer's choice)
1 "Grab a Green" - you choose from lettuce, escarole, cabbage, kale, collards, Swiss chard, and more
1 delicata squash
1 lb. of potatoes
Storage tips and recipes for all of the vegetables in this week's share can be located on our website, here.
VEGETABLE SUBSCRIPTION PICKUP POLICIES
All pickups must take place within store operating hours. For many reasons, we can't leave shares outside the store. Pickup days are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.
If you need to skip your share for the week, or change your pickup day, you must provide us with 48 hours' notice for any of the options below. This is because we pack shares the day before pickup. Once your share has been harvested and packed, we can not change or cancel your pickup.
For Tuesday pickups being changed, we need to know by Sunday.
Wednesday pickups, we need to know by Monday.
Saturday pickups, we need to know by Thursday.
You have the option to choose another pickup day in a given week: we offer share pickup on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday only. We can not have shares ready on any other days.
You can skip a pickup and receive a double the following week.
If you miss your pickup, we will hold your share for 24 hours after your pickup day, and then it will be donated to a local food pantry. With more members than ever before, we don't have the cooler space to hold onto shares longer than this. This is a great option if you miss your pickup - just come the next day.
You can always send a guest to pick up in your place by simply notifying us of their name.
Please send us an email to laurelglenfarm@gmail.com 48 hours before an anticipated change. You must submit your request in writing in order to leave a paper trail. This allows you to show proof to our store staff at pickup in the event that we need clarification.
If a share is picked up outside of your scheduled time (aside from an approved change) or the 24 hour holding period without proof of a request, you will be billed for an additional share.
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